From Colonial Dependency to Strategic Adaptation: Brazil and Europe in the Global Trade System

This thesis explores how Brazil’s colonial-era economic foundations continue to influence its current trade policies with European countries within the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It contends that patterns rooted in the colonial period, such as reliance on primary commodity exports and uneven trade relationships, have persisted and adapted over time. Employing a historical-comparative method and qualitative analysis, the study traces Brazil’s economic development from colonial resource extraction to today’s trade management, emphasising the persistence of structural inequalities. It examines Brazil’s participation in the WTO, its involvement in trade disputes, and its strategic responses to European agricultural protections, regulatory standards, and sustainability demands. The results indicate that, despite increased institutional capacity and strategic action, especially through multilateral negotiations and dispute resolution, Brazil’s role in global trade continues to be shaped by historical imbalances. These influences are now more visible through regulatory influence, environmental standards, and global value chain interactions rather than through traditional tariffs. Overall, the thesis highlights that colonial legacies remain deeply embedded in modern trade relations, affecting both limitations and opportunities for strategic engagement. It advances the understanding of how historical economic patterns continue to shape contemporary trade governance and the shifting interactions between developing and advanced economies.